Coming Events

Youth Mission Trip

Sunday-Saturday, June 28-July 4

The Senior High PYF will join with youth from eight other Potomac Association churches for this year's Summer Mission Experience. From June 28 through July 4, seventy-eight youth and chaperones will join together to blitz-build a single-family home in West Virginia under the auspices of Habitat for Humanity.

Please come and bid them off with a service of commissioning during worship on June 28.

Big thanks to Randy Young and Hank Fairman for chaperoning our youth on the trip.

If you'd like to send a note to a participant, address it to the individual's name, c/o Potomac Youth, Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity, 43 E. Main St., White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986. Please mail no later than June 28 to ensure delivery.

Food Pantry: Urgent Request Continues

Sunday, July 5

Next Sunday we especially invite your generous gifts of staple foods and toiletries. Supplies are severely depleted at the food pantry of Heritage United Church of Christ in Baltimore. We join the pastor, the Rev. Julius Jefferson, in inviting you to support this urgent request for non-expired, non-perishable food as well as toiletries such as full-size toothpaste, soap, and toilet paper.

The June collection for Heritage UCC brought in over 20 bags of food and toiletries, which have already been delivered to Baltimore. Another delivery will be made in late July. 6/14

Wedding Reception

Sunday, July 12

The Board of Deacons requests the pleasure of your company at a celebration for Pastor David Lindsey's wedding to Carrie Dobmeier. Please join us in the social hall after the 10:00 am worship service on Sunday, July 12. We'll have cake, pictures, toasts, and more as we demonstrate our extravagant welcome. If you are available to help, please contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. 6/14

Freedom Summer: Justice in Our Time

Sundays: July 12, August 2, August 31

You are invited to join the Little River UCC community this summer in an exploration of justice in our time through our own "Freedom Summer" series. Learn more about the causes of the "New Jim Crow" and mass incarceration, their disproportionate impact on people of color, and how we can respond as a faith community. As in the Freedom Summer schools of 1964, we will seek racial justice through education. Events include a summer vacation teach-in on July 19 about closing the cradle-to-prison pipeline; a Faith in Film showing of The House I Live In, an examination of the effects of the war on drugs, on August 2; and a discussion of the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative law practice, on August 31. For details, please see the Freedom Summer 2015 brochure.

Please sign up for Freedom Summer events: call the church office (703-978-3060) or sign up online. 6/19

News and Announcements: New Address, New Deadline

Our new part-time Communications Coordinator, Roberta Croll, has finished up her second week with us. She’s ready to receive your announcements for our publications!

Effective immediately, please submit all items for the bulletin, Currents, and Current Tidings to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
by Wednesdays at noon. Thank you! 6/26

Opportunities for Sharing

Letters Against Torture

The Board of Outreach and Social Justice thanks everyone who participated in the June 21 letter-signing activity encouraging Attorney General Loretta Lynch to read and take appropriate action on the Senate Intelligence Committee's report of its investigation into the CIA torture program. Regrettably, Justice Department officials have signaled a lack of interest in the report, saying both that no one at the Department has read the report and that nothing in the report warrants any further action. The National Religious Campaign Against Torture is asking congregations to urge the Attorney General to read and act on the report to help ensure that the U.S. never tortures again.

We gathered 40 letters, which will clearly be noticed, especially in combination with similar messages from other people of faith and human rights advocates. We would love to gather even more signed letters, so if you were not able to participate in the action, you may download this sample letter as a MS-Word document or PDF file.

We regret that the attempt to show the PBS documentary "Secrets, Politics, and Torture" failed because of technical difficulties. The Board of Outreach and Social Justice encourages you to view this compelling video online. 6/26

Stewardship Reminder

Please remember to continue your regular financial support of the church through the summer. It takes $14,000 per week to provide our ministries to members, communities and the wider church. You may make or schedule donations at any time using the Online Giving button at the bottom of this page. 6/14

Teach Summer Church School

Sundays, June 28–August 30

Church school is being offered this summer for ages 3-9 starting Sunday, June 28 for children ages 3-9. The children will begin in worship at 10:00 and proceed to class following the Time with Children. Fulfill the promise we make during baptisms and please help those beginning their faith journey to take some early steps by teaching summer church school. All lessons and craft materials will be provided. Sign up in the narthex. 5/29

Ongoing

Summer Schedule

Sunday worship: 10:00 a.m. only, through September 6.

Office hours: 9:00-2:00 Monday through Friday, through the end of August.

To communicate with staff outside of office hours, please leave a message (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
, 703-978-3060). Staff members will respond when they are in the office. For urgent matters, please contact David or Hank on their cell phones.

Speaking the Truth in Love: Sermons about Communication

Sundays through August 30

Communication is one of the biggest challenges we all face. How do we speak honeslty to people while still being kind? When do we speak up about the injustices we see around us? How should church members speak to each other, and why? Who needs someone to speak up on their behalf, and how do we listen to them?

To address these and other difficult questions, Pastors David and Hank have organized a summer sermon series. Here's the schedule:

June 7

Communication and Conflict

David and Hank

June 14

How Direct or Indirect Should I Be?

David

June 21

I Speak as to a Child: Harmful or Instructive?

Hank

June 28

Things You Can't Say: Being Honest or Earnest?

Hank

July 5

When Do You Just Walk Away?

David

July 12

Talking While Holding a Grudge

David

July 19

Don't Check Your Email on Vacation

Hank

July 26

How Honest Should I Be Right Now?

David

August 2

Offering and Receiving Criticism

David

August 9

(Re-)Learning to Talk after Trauma

David

August 16

Speaking Words of Wisdom

David

August 23

Say What You Feel, and Stand with Conviction

Hank

August 30

Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak

David and Hank

If you know anyone who is really struggling with communication, this is a great opportunity to invite them to church. Please bring them with you to worship and offer to stay with them after the service. Sessions are held after worship to debrief the pastors about the sermons. If you miss a Sunday, recorded sermons may be found here.